Becky Goodermote, center, enters Rensselaer County Court with her mother, left, and attorney Michael Jurena, right, to be arraigned for the DWAI accident which killed Matthew Ratelle of Petersburgh last September. (Mike McMahon / The Record)

TROY -- A Hoosick Falls woman who admitted to leaving the scene after striking and killing a cyclist in September was indicted on manslaughter charges Thursday, and now faces up to 22 years behind bars if convicted.

Becky Goodermote, 37, who is currently free on bail, arrived at Rensselaer County Court shortly before noon escorted by her parents for arraignment on the 14-count indictment charging manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, driving while impaired by drugs and leaving the scene of an accident that left 40-year-old Michael Rattelle dead.

The indictment also alleges Goodermote was using her cell phone at the time of the incident, though her attorney denied the charge.

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Rensselaer County District Attorney Richard McNally, who was in court for Goodmote's arraignment, called the case "very compelling."

With the victim's teary-eyed, pregnant wife looking on, Goodermote stood next to her attorney, Michael Jurena, and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Judge Debra Young agreed with his request that Goodermote remain out of jail on the $10,000 bail.

At 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 3, 2012, Rattelle, of Petersburgh, was cycling along Route 22 when he was struck from behind and thrown 30 yards off the shoulder of the road.

Rattelle was eventually taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital, where he later died from head trauma.

Rattelle had been employed as a health care specialist and leaves behind two children, Kylie and Connor, along with his wife, Jennifer, who is pregnant with the couple's third child.

With Goodermote and her parents at his side, Jurena said his client "didn't realize she'd hit anyone."

Jurena said Goodmote was "devastated and saddened by the death of Mr. Rattelle and her heart goes out to his family."

He called the evidence presented to the grand jury "misleading and inaccurate."

McNally said Goodermote's positive test for Oxycontin, hydrocodone and Lyrica, led to the charges of Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs.

"In addition," McNally said, Goodermote "faces various vehicle and traffic charges, including using a cell phone" while driving.

"We're confident we can secure a conviction," McNally said.

Jurena said the blood sample was misleading, because it was "taken some six or seven hours after the accident."

He said Goodermote had been using "prescribed medication for various health issues."

Jurena vehemently denied charges Goodmote was texting while driving, though McNally said investigators have "compelling evidence" that she was.

Goodmote's bail conditions also mandate she appear twice weekly to county probation and submit to drug testing.

Jurena said Goodmote had "no previous criminal history in New York state," but acknowledged she has a prior criminal history in Vermont.

Rattelle's death stunned his co-workers at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, where he was a nuclear medical technician since 1995.

Hospital spokesman Kevin Robinson said Rattelle was "a key member of our decontamination team as well as paying an important role in ensuring radiation safety throughout the organization.

"Matt was a wonderful and important member of the health care team here at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center. We are deeply saddened by his passing and we will certainly miss him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this time," Robinson said. "It's a real loss for our health system and our community."